EXPOSED: Shocking trade in baby Orangutans being bred as playthings for the Russian super-rich for £24,000 eachBaby Orangutans are being bred in Russia as exotic pets to sell as playthings for the super-rich & are being advertised for sale on the internet for £24,000. The endangered creatures are not just being reared in Russia but also being imported in an apparent defiance of Int.l rules. With very little regulation & a myriad of legal loopholes, a booming animal trade has grown with a shocking selection of animals - fromMacaques to Falcons - being offered up for sale over the internet. The Great Apes are in the Red Book, an Int.lly recognised list of Endangered Species. Dealers boast that they will mimic owners & can be dressed in nappies; Campaigners have highlighted rampant sale of exotic animals over web; Conservationists demanding complete ban on keeping Primates as pets. Source: Ani F.

One of the baby Orangutans being offered for sale to the super-rich in Russia for up to £24,000 pictured in its pen at a 'nursery' called Exotic Zoo in Desna village outside Moscow

1. Two suspected Wildlife smugglers, standing next to their car, along with 2 plastic crates containing 4 Tiger cubs, & Endangered Pangolins, Vietnam. There are widespread global threats to Pangolins, lack of understanding of the Species & their conservation needs. 2. Campaigners are calling on Vietnam to increase efforts to address the Illegal Trade of Rhino horn, threatening Rhino populations in both Africa & Asia. In 2012, 381 S. African Rhinos have been poached to meet demand in Asian consumer markets, particularly Vietnam.

News:Illegal Rat Meat & Other Bushmeat Sold In 'Shocking Quantities' In London Market http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/rat-meat-london_n_1891832.htmlUK: Shocking quantities of rat meat being sold illegally in London marketplaces: Ridley Road Market No.1; massive quantities of Bushmeat, incl. rat, goat & sheep, sold illegally the public. The bushmeat trade: a persistent problem for the UK authorities. In 2009 10 tonnes of illegal Bushmeat from Africa imported in London markets every day. Consumers warned of the risk of contracting viruses such as Ebola, foot&mouth & AIDS.

Cane rat meat 'sold to public' in Ridley Road Market http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19622903USA: not immune to the allure of a meat black market, either. The US is one of the world's largest, if not the largest, consuming nations for wildlife products, incl.wildlife used for food, whether for cultural reasons or luxury markets. The demand continues, so does the trafficking.e.g. US Customs at NewJersey's Int.l Airport, caught more than 19 pounds of antelope & cane rat meat from a passenger from Uganda.

62) New!! Pet.: Send Pongky back home to the Foresthttp://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/send-pongky-back-home-to-the-forestThe Medan Zoo in Sumatra has recently acquired 2 new residents – 2 male Orangutans, confiscated from the illegal pet trade by the Gov.t conservation agency (BKSDA) in Aceh province. Both Orangutans were being illegally held in captivity. One of the animals, named Pongky, was being kept by a high-ranking police officer. The Orangutans have simply swapped one life behind bars. According to the Indonesian law, any Orangutan confiscated from the illegal pet trade should enter a rehabilitation programme & be returned to the wild. Both Orangutans should be immediately transferred to the Sumatran Orangutan rehabilitation centre, rather than being caged in the Medan Zoo for the rest of their lives.

61) New!! Pet.: Become an Anti-Poaching Advocate!https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/become-anti-poaching-advocatePoaching is a multi-billion $ industry that’s pushing many Species to the brink of Extinction. 3,000% increase in Rhino poaching bet. 2007 & 2011; 12,000 African Elephants killed each year for their ivory. Poachers’ methods are incredibly brutal, with stories of Rhinos bleeding to death, baby Gorillas getting caught in traps, & Elephants brought down by power lines. Without immediate action, more & more animals each year are going to suffer & die needlessly. Even though poaching may seem like it’s happening thousands of miles away, you can make a difference. Become an anti-poaching advocate & read the steps on the pledge! Source: Sandra M.

60) New!! Pet.:End Great Ape Slaveryhttps://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/John_Scanlon_CITES_Secretariat_End_Great_Ape_Slavery/?kPcTncbGreat apes – Chimpanzees, Bonobos, Gorillas & Orangutans – are in great demand in Middle Eastern & East Asian safari parks, zoos & the private menageries of Russian oligarchs & criminal kingpins. They are money-makers for the owners of the parks as a fee-paying public flocks to watch them perform in demeaning skits, wearing colourful costumes while riding bicycles or playing drums. After the show they are locked up in dark, barren cages to await the next performance. Imagine your child or little brother or sister in such a situation. Great Apes experience very similar emotions to humans, so they suffer greatly in this cruel slavery condition. Source: Stephanie G.

Video: "Wildlife SOS program"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbP_x_UQdQ8&list=UUuY9ZCDuyB7EK6A4_vBBubg&index=1Edwin Wiek runs the WFFT (Wildlife Foundation For Thailand) - a sanctuary for abused animals.... he is a good friend of Sangduen (Lek) Chailert, Founder of the "Elephant Nature Park" Thailand (another sanctuary for abused & disabled Elephants. Both of these people are fighting against the illegal trade in exotic & endangered animals in Thailand... both have received death threats, faced arrest & generally fear for their lives, but continue the work never-the-less. I think this video needs widespread viewing so people can see what is happening in Thailand & other parts of Asia. It is difficult to stop this - a very dangerous affair generally & people often disappear without a trace when they try to stop it. Source Col N

VICTORY!!!A dog slaughterhouseand 33 markets shut down in Chinahttp://www.animalequality.net/victorychina/Where over 1.5 million dogs & cats were killed & sold for their meat & fur each year. With your support, Animal Equality’s undercover investigation into the dog & cat meat trade has reached more than 50,000,000 people. The footage was handed over to the authorities that, as a result of our campaign, have decided to close down these hellish places for good. Sources: Gina C.; Annie S.Video:VICTORY! A Dog Slaughterhouse Shutdown in Chinahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHPFXAECkCU#t=32

55) New!!Pet.: Condemn Zoo for Kidnapping Endagered Slothshttp://forcechange.com/82773/condemn-zoo-for-kidnapping-endagered-sloths/#gf_1The kidnapped pygmy three-toed sloths are 8 of less than one hundred left in the wild, making the Species Critically Endangered. Pygmy three-toed sloths are incredibly docile & gentle. Capturing them would be no chore, though it is ethically unsound to remove them from their natural Habitat to put them in a zoo where they will most likely die. The actions of Daryl Richardson & Luis Sigler are incredibly selfish & dangerous. The 2 were apprehended by Panamanian animal protectionists & urged to put the sloths back in the wild. Source: Ana M.

49) New!! Pet.: Protect Small Asian Mammal from Exploitative Coffee Production Processhttp://forcechange.com/72199/protect-small-asian-mammal-from-exploitative-coffee-production-process/Target:Producers of kopi luwak coffee in Indonesia - Asian Palm civets, small cat-like cousins of the mongoose indigenous to Indonesia, are being exploited to make the world’s most expensive coffee. The coffee is created by extracting coffee beans fermented in the digestive tract of the civet that are then excreted, cleaned, & roasted. Because of the time it takes & the limited No. of civets in detention, the process is quite costly & makes the coffee highly sought-after. Increased demand for this rare brew has encouraged producers to capture & force feed more civets, even types that do not include coffee berries in their diet naturally. Cher C.http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3637052

47) USA Only Pet.: Help Stop the Illegal, Commercial Bushmeat Trade http://www.janegoodall.org/petition/stop-bushmeatIncreased Trade of Illegal Bushmeat across Central & W.Africa: thousands of adult Chimpanzees & other Endangered Wildlife species: Elephants & Gorillas are killed every year. Illegal Bushmeat trade: not driven by the need to feed local people. This meat ends up in city markets & expensive restaurants throughout the world: items such as Gorilla hands considered “delicacies” by wealthy elite both in the range countries, in Europe & the USA. Source Dianne C.Video: Illegal Commercial Bushmeat Trade http://vimeo.com/4984959#

46) Pet.: End the Bushmeat Trade in Cameroonhttp://forcechange.com/64596/end-the-bushmeat-trade-in-cameroon/“Bushmeat”=meat that comes from wildlife: Elephants, Antelope, Gorillas, Chimpanzees. Common in Central&W.Africa. Target:Gorillas&Chimpanzees, esp.Endangered in Cameroon. Meatsold to fine-dining restaurants all-over the world,with Gorilla hands & smoked Ape meat on menus.After killing a Chimpanzee family, poachers sell babies as pets: babies are physically&psychologically devastated. Bushmeat: linked to HIV/AIDS&Ebola.Bushmeat trade still on the rise.Koko the Gorilla, an amazingly intelligent Gorilla who is protected in a research sanctuary in CA.contributed to the protection of Gorillas in Cameroon by educating children. Urge the U.S. Congress to put forth greater effort to stop the illegal Bushmeat trade. Starting in Cameroon, we can move forth efforts to put an end to the Bushmeat in all of Africa.

42) Pet.: End Illegal Bush Meat Trade in W. Africahttp://forcechange.com/46603/end-illegal-bush-meat-trade-in-western-africa/Bush Meat=meat for food. Endangered or Protected Species: Gorillas,Bonobos,Antelopes,Lemurs. Some hunters export the illegal meat to those who pay a high price. Tons of Bushmeat illegally sold & transported each day. Unethical & could also lead to disease: 10Ebola deaths in Congo linked to Bushmeat. Bet.2008&2010, shipments of illegal BushMeat seized in the US found positive for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV),Ebola,Herpes,Monkey pox. even after the animals were smoked. Prevent poachers from hunting & selling Bushmeat; Local people who depend onBushMeat need to be taught alternatives. Crack down on the people that still partake in this illegal practice. Cher:http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3502892

41) Pet.:Killing an Essential Part of Our World: Africa’s Bush Meat Tradehttp://forcechange.com/17426/killing-an-essential-part-of-our-world-africas-bush-meat-trade/Chimpanzees, Gorillas, & Elephants:hunted & killed for the “Bushmeat” trade=the commercial, illegal, hunting & selling of wild animals for food. We share 98% of our DNA with Chimpanzees, our closest relatives. It’s an Int.l Trade: meat is exported from Africa to various parts of the world.Many animals could become EXTINCT: Elephants, Gorillas, & Chimps.Over 1 Million Tons/year of animal meat is soldfromAfrica. An injustice to: wild animals & ourselves: we are connected not only to each other but to our world animals. Wildlife in Africa is under threat!!“If we kill off the wild, then we are killing a part of our souls.”-Jane Goodall. Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3157454

The global value of illegal wildlife trade is between $7.8 & $10 billion/year. It is a major illicit transnational activity worldwide—along with arms, drugs & human trafficking.

I am not a rug Every part of the Tiger is traded in illegal wildlife markets. Poaching is the most immediate threat to wild Tigers. Their parts are used for traditional medicine, folk remedies, & increasingly as a status symbol among wealthy Asians.

I am not a trinket Tens of a thousands of Elephants are killed every year for their ivory tusks. In 1989, the Convention on Int.l Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora banned the Int.l trade in ivory.

I am not medicine At least 1 Rhino is killed every day due to the mistaken belief that Rhino horn can cure diseases. The main market is Vietnam where there is a newly emerged belief that rhino horn cures cancer. Rhino horn is also used in other traditional Asian medicine...Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3498523

News: Pony the Orangutan Prostitute - Danuta W.http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=31084&pst=1701784&saved=1Pony was confiscated from a prostitution house in Kareng Pangi village, Central Kalimantan, in 2003. She was only around 6 years old at the time of confiscation. Unthinkably, Pony was herself treated as a prostitute. Men could pay a certain amount of money to the house owner to have sex with her.

39) New!! Pet.: Protect Chimpanzees From Illegal Bushmeat Tradehttp://forcechange.com/70841/protect-chimpanzees-from-illegal-bushmeat-trade/Chimpanzees share 98% of our genetic make-up. Much like us, these intelligent & social beings form strong family bonds, seek to protect each other from harm, & nurture their young. However, humans are directly contributing to the demise of wild Chimpanzee populations through the thriving illegal commercial Bushmeat Trade. Chimpanzees killed & sold as Bushmeat are often shot by poachers or caught in snare traps, causing immense pain & suffering when wire constricts around a hand or foot. Infant Chimpanzees are too small to fetch a good price for meat, so after hunters kill their mothers, these orphans are often sold into the cruel exotic Pet Trade.If you believe in a future for these amazing beings, support strengthening regulations related to the int.l trade of Endangered Species & discourage destructive industrial practices that facilitate the Bushmeat Trade. Cher C.http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3619803

Gundulhas been rescued. She has undergone a health check & rested overnight & is now (Friday 19/10) on her way to a Sanctuary in West Kutai Regency with another young male Orangutan called Koto in the care of BKSDA & BOSF.

BOS Foundation Assists BKSDA on Gundul’s Casehttp://orangutan.or.id/bos-foundation-assists-bksda-on-gunduls-case/Oct.18, 2012 -TheBorneo Orangutan Survival Foundation was requested by the East Kalimantan Conservation & Natural Resources Authority (BKSDA) to provide medical services, health checks & blood sampling at the East Kalimantan BKSDA Office in Samarinda for one adult female Orangutan who had just been rescued by BKSDA.Source: Monika W.

Gundul (left) & Joko (right) ready to be delivered to a conservation organization in West Kutai.

Gundul, 21yrs-old, lives on a pile of garbage beside a goat pen. Day&night, in all weathers, this is her only life 24/hr. When it rains she has no choice but to sit or sleep in the mud & her own urine & feces: Think about that for a moment. Despite attempts to persuade the CEO of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation to rescue Gundul, they have never once replied: no answer, no explanation. Her only protection from the weather is a black trash bag to place over her head. In tropical storms: pitch dark, torrential rain, thunder & lightning: Gundul faces all this, alone, especially at night: & she is there all alone & this could be a daily occurrence during the long rainy season. 20 yrs since she was taken from her slaughtered mother, she has not seen another Orangutan for 20 yrs. Held by an old man since 1990 in Samarinda on E.Borneo. As a baby, Gundul was free to go everywhere; the old man let her around his house. When she grew up, Gundul's strength & frustrations became a threat to the owner, who placed her inside a cage. As she could not be kept in a cage she was tied up at her neck by chains tied up to a tree. Gundul is a gentle & seemingly forgiving Orangutan.Her future: uncertain.Will BOSF abandon Gundul the way they abandoned Rambo before he died? Gundul will not be helped unless YOU do something to help her. Gundul's owner wants her to be confiscated. Success! Orangutan Gundul has been rescued!!She underwent a health check & rested overnight on 18/10 & the next day was transported to aSanctuary in West Kutai Regency with another young male Orangutan called Koto in the care of BKSDA & BOSF. Thank you very much for signing the Petitions!! Source: Danuta W.

The multibillion-$ trade in illegal wildlife - clandestine trafficking that has driven iconic creatures like the Tiger to near-extinction - is also threatening the survival of Great Apes, a new UN report says.

Endangered Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Gorillas & Bonobos are disappearing from the wild in frightening numbers, as private owners pay top dollar for exotic pets, while disreputable zoos, amusement parks & traveling circuses clamour for smuggled primates to entertain audiences. More than 22,000 Great Apes are estimated to have been traded illegally over a 7-year period ending in 2011. That's about 3,000 a year; more than half are Chimpanzees. "These great apes make up an important part of our natural heritage. But as with all things of value,Great Apes are used by man for commercial profit& the illegal trafficking of the species constitutes a serious threat to their existence". Cher:http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3555296

News: Pony,Orangutan Prostitutesome sick bastards have been using Orangutan’s as prostitute’s!even dressing the animal up like a female & the customers come to get some. This is so sick, I can imagine how sad these people are! The customers know it’s a Orang Utan and they are there for just that! …It took us over a year to rescue her, because every time we went in with forest police & local officers we would beoverpowered by the villagers, who simply would not give her up.They wouldthreaten us with guns & knives with poison on them. In the end it took 35 policemen armed with AK-47s & other weaponry going in there & demanding that they hand over Pony.

The 1st infant was in fairly good condition, despite signs of fatigue &dehydration.

The 2nd, a female, is younger than the 1st; less than 6 months old: an incredibly delicate age for a Gorilla to be without her mother. The tiny Gorilla was being held by a man who was trying to sell her.

They willjoin other Grauer’s Gorilla orphans.We can only imagine the trauma they have experienced & thedamage poachers inflicted on their groups in order to obtain them:almost certainly adult Gorillas died trying to protect them.The current political unrest in DRC is also playing a role in Gorilla trafficking, some of the rebel groups participate in the trafficking.

News:Rwanda:Baby Gorillas Rescued From Traffickershttp://allafrica.com/stories/201210030346.html 2 baby Gorillas belonging to Grauer's Gorilla territory have been rescued from traffickers by Congolese wildlife authorities in the DR Congo -Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Int.l. The infant Gorillas are now under the care of the Dian Fossey Fund before they are transferred to the Gorilla Rehabilitation & Conservation Education (GRACE) centre in the DRC's North Kivu area.Illegal Gorilla traffickingis still a critical threat to the Highly Endangered Species. Kevin A.: http://www.care2.com/news/member/353427779/3463851

An Indonesian forestry ministry officer holds Hornbill beaks, Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian customs seized more than 200 Endangered Hornbill beaks illegally captured by poachers,to be smuggled out of the country for use in traditional medicine

Trish G.: SIGNED, OF COURSE & JUST TO LET U KNOW, I DO SIGN LOTS OF UR PETITIONS, I JUST DON'T COME ON HERE & TELL U, SO, I'M JUST LETTIN U KNOW, I'M NOT IGNORING U & UR EFFORTS TO INCLUDE ME, ARE NOT BEING WASTED!!! THANX LOTS! U DO A MARVELOUS JOB, MY FRIEND & THE ANIMALS ARE BETTER OFF B/C OF IT!!! XXXXX

A rescued baby Pangolin is released in the Forest by Gov.t wildlife & conservation officer in Karo, North Sumatraafter Indonesian police intercepted 85 Endangered Pangolins, most of them alive despite being stuffed into sacks by suspected smugglers

News: Asian Species in Crisishttp://www.earthtimes.org/conservation/asian-species-crisis/2169/ Sep 2012 From Orangutan to giant Catfish, the exotic animals of Asia are just about the most Endangered, & loved, on Earth. What would happen if the several Sub-Species of Tigerwere to be lost tomorrow? It could certainly happen, according to the latest figures from WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). The Asian human population is part of the problem, with such over-extended communities spreading through some of the most important habitats for conservation.Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3448804

The notion of slain Apes & Elephants sparks an universal outrage, even among carnivores. NY:dozens of Monkey & Baboon limbs & torsos into the US from Guinea. All over the world, wild creatures poached & slaughtered by the millions to be eaten: not in the meager kitchens of hunters, but by fork-twirling gluttons at the far ends of vast, criss-crossing, blood-encrusted int.l & criminal networks. In Chicago & NewYork & Paris & nearly everywhere, some folks would rathereat Baboon than beef:millions of fork-twirling gourmands, many of them in the US, are eating Endangered Wildlife

Wildlife trafficking is estimated to be a $10 billion-a-year business fueled by people who want to own exotic pets that belong back in the forests & waterways they are illegally taken from. This is also a worldwide dilemma. In 2009, Smithsonian said, “Wildlife trafficking is thought to be the third most valuable illicit commerce in the world, after drugs & weapons.

News:The Untouchables: Asian Wildlife traffickers http://m.rapidcityjournal.com/news/world/asia/the-untouchables-asian-wildlife-traffickers/article_5950a22d-4c76-50bf-9768-16f8c4238927.html If corruption is not tackled soon, you can say goodbye to Asia's Tigers, Elephants & a whole host of other animals. "A key Thai smuggler, who runs a shipping company,has a gamut of law enforcement officers in his pocket, allowing him to traffic Rhino horns, Ivory & Tiger parts to China. Chinese buyers, informed of incoming shipments, fly down to Bangkok, staying at hotels pinpointed by the agents around the Chatuchak Market, where Endangered Species are openly sold. There they seal deals with known middlemen & freight operators. The 100,000 passengers moving through this airport from around the world everyday are oblivious to the fact that they are standing in one of the world's hottest wildlife trafficking zones. Kevin A.: http://www.care2.com/news/member/353427779/3434896

The book tells of turbulent experiences while rescuing Orangutans. One of the opening stories is of Momo and Mimi two young Orangutan orphans who were discovered at the back of a private home in Sintang clinging to eachother in fright not knowing what wouldhappen to them next. They were kept as pets but later confiscated and taken to a nearby rescue centre.Source:Danuta W.

“Julius,” a baby Orangutan saved from an illegal trader in North Sumatra, Indonesia. He is expected to be released back into the wild in the near future

The trader, trying to sell the 3year old Orangutan, received a 7-month prison sentence, which is only the 3rd in Indonesia since Orangutans were officially protected in 1924. Although there have been over 2,500 confiscations of illegally held Orangutans in Indonesia since the early 1970’s, the first actual prosecution of an illegal Orangutan owner occurred in Borneo in 2010, & now in Sumatra in 2012. Orangutans aren't widely traded in Sumatra. Most enter the market as a byproduct of Forest clearing for Oil Palm plantations & other forms of agriculture. Only juvenile Orangutans are captured - mothers are generally killed.About 30 Orangutans are confiscated a year by SOCP & PHKA.

News: Unlawful Pet Trade Claims The Life Of Baby Orangutanhttp://www.care2.com/causes/unlawful-pet-trade-claims-the-life-of-baby-orangutan.htmlJune 27, 2012 A critically ill baby Orangutan named Anyin arrived at the Orangutan Rehab.Centre run by International Animal Rescue in Borneo earlier this week. A hunter killed Anyin’s mother in the forest where they lived in order to catch the baby& sell her in the illegal pet trade. Her owner paid a mere $140USD. After being kept as apet for more than 18 months, the owner decided to hand over Anyin to BKSDA officers becausethe baby was very sick & he knew she could die. Anyin was born in the Sambas Reg. which ishome to the most endangered Subspecies of the Borneo Orangutan, recently included in the IUCN Red List of the 25 most Endangered Primates in the world.

Baby Orangutans kept as pets:often die in their new homes: due to infectious diseases they can get from humans, sometimes more severe & deadly in Orangutans than in humans because their immune systems are not ready to fight them; taken from their mothers when they are still small & depend on mother’s milk, have very weak immune systems which make them more prone to infections; they do not live in suitable conditions: often chained up or locked in cramped cages;no proper diets: nutritional problems; no medical care.

While writing this story about Anyin’s courageous fight for her life, IAR released an update saying the youngster passed away. The devastated IAR veterinary team suspects she died of typhoid fever, a human disease which is deadly to Orangutans. Anyin is just one more example of what Deforestation, Hunting & the Illegal Pet Trade is doing to Orangutans in Indonesia. “It is very upsetting when we are unable to save the life of an Orangutan, particularly such a young animal, once their Home in the Forest is destroyed, they are defenceless against poachers who kill theadults & capture their babies to sell as pets. Catching, keeping or killing an orangutan is illegal in Borneo, but most people who are guilty of these acts still go unpunished. This situation won’t change until the law is enforced & the wildlife traffickers are called to account for their crimes.”

News No. 2: Ujil the Orangutan is rescued at the 2nd attempt 24 May 2012 Ujil the captive Orangutan whose owner refused to give him up is finally in the care of IAR's team at the rescue centre in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. After a 1st unsuccessful attempt to rescue him, which was met with aggression & threats of violence by his owner, 11 agents from the Forestry Dept. travelled to the remote village where Ujil was being kept chained up to secure his release. This time the owner agreed to surrender him without a fight. The rescued Orangutan appeared to be in good condition with no visible signs of injury or ill health. IAR's team performed the routine tests that are always conducted when a new Orangutan arrives &removed the chain that was still fastened around his neck. He proved to have agood appetite & was calm & fairly tame when the keepers approached him, as would be expected from an Orangutan that has spent a long time in captivitysurrounded by people. Ujil must now spend a period in quarantine but as soon as this is overhe will be placed with the other babies,he will be able to play & exercise & start the proper rehabilitation process. Now he will havethe chance to live & behave like an Orangutan, probably for the 1st time in his life, & develop the skills he will need to survive back in the wild. The action of the BKSDAmust send a strong message to anyone else who is keeping an Orangutan as a pet that they are breaking the law & sooner or later they will be forced to surrender the animal to the authorities." Cher:http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3382225

Source: BarbCat S.

Ujil is now safe and well at our centreUjil is in quarantine until it is safe for him to join the other babies

News No. 1: Ujil the Orangutan remains in captivity after rescue mission fails Feb 2012Efforts to rescue a young Orangutan from captivity in Indonesia were thwarted when the owner became aggressive & refused to hand him over. In spite of the presence of police & Gov.t officials, the man threatened to kill the Orangutan & then anyone who tried to rescue him. The team was eventually forced to leave empty-handed but hopes to set up a 2nd, successful rescue operation before too long so that Ujil can be given appropriate care & rehabilitation at International Animal Rescue’s emergency centre in Ketapang, Western Borneo.

Long tailed Macaques, Macaca fascicularis, sit in a cage at a pet market in Medan, Indonesia.The city isa major centre of domestic & International Trade of Wildlife according to Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network

Frances, what is the problem of trying to check if you have already signed them, by signing them once more? Only some Petition sites do not allow a 2nd signature (e.g.: Care2). The only "risk" is that a notice appears saying "....you signed on...".

When my friends send me entire pages of Lists of Petitions, by personal Messages, I always try to sign them, without taking into consideration if I had already signed them or not...Probably this is why I have signed 11,214 only Care2 Petitions since June 2010 (and not 2009 as my profile says).

In this case a Gorilla, but also Chimpanzees, Bonobos & Orangutan are traded to be eaten, not only at the local marketplaces, but Primates are also exported all-over-the-world as food!!! WHAT ARE WE DOING to OUR COUSINS!! Money is the real enemy to Wildlife worldwide!! michela

Target: Gov.t of Thailand; Goal: Stop inhumane Orangutan boxing matches at the Safari World theme park - At the Safari World theme park in Thailand, Orangutans are forced to put on gloves & fight each other in “fake” boxing matches as an attraction for visitors. Despite attempts for years to shut down the operation, this outrageously inhumane event continues to this day. Demand an end to this brutal spectacle by asking that the Gov.t of Thailand close Safari World for good. Source: Kazimierz K.

To date, conservation efforts have failed the Great Apes. Year after year, conferences & seminars celebrate a “renewed” engagement to save the Great Apes, which leaves the participants, as well as the public, with a feel-good sense of optimism.

Then, year after year, we are surprised that conservation efforts barely affect therace towards EXTINCTION.

The United Nations has reported that the Illegal Trade of Great Apes is decreasing their population by taking more than 3,000 Primates from the wild each year. It has also been estimated that at least 22,218 Great Apes have disappeared since 2005.Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, make up 64% of that incredibly high number. The Great Apes are already facing Endangerment from Habitat Loss, & Illegal Trading is causing their population to drop even more. We need to act to save these Primates.

Yahoo!’s online store sells literally hundreds of different whale products, incl. those from protected Endangered Species. But instead of abiding by Int.l agreements that ban whaling, Japanese “science” ships harpoon hundreds of whales & drag them onto boats to die. Dolphins are corralled into coves & stabbed to death by the thousands. Every year Japanese whalers brutally slaughter thousands of Whales & Dolphins -- & Yahoo! is profiting off the whole operation. The industry cannot survive without huge Gov.t subsidies. Yahoo! has no business supporting this cruel industry, & a massive international outcry could convince the multinational internet conglomerate to pull its support from the online store -- striking a serious, & potentially fatal, blow to whaling.

With the Habitat of the Sun Bears replaced with Palm Oil plantations, they should be no question as to wether the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is Endangered. Pls list it as so immediately as it faces the same extinction possibilities as other Sumatran animals that once called the Rainforest their home. The destruction of the Rainforests being replaced by Palm Oil plantations- & the animals being driven to extinction- such as the Sumatran Tiger, Orangutan, Elephant & Rhino; but less in known about the Sun Bear, & it was listed by the Int.l Union for Conservation of Nature as "data deficient" until 2007. In addition to leveling the Sumatra Forest, Logging roads create convenient access for poachers. As natural food sources disappear, Sun Bears are driven by hunger to forage for food on Palm Oil plantations, where they are shot or trapped by angry farmers. Sun Bears are kept as pets: the mother bears are killed in order to obtain young cubs.

The demand for bear products used in Traditional Asian Medicine is another threat as it prescribes bear fat, gall, meat, paws, spinal cord, blood, & bones for complaints ranging from baldness to rheumatism. Bear entrees are popular in restaurants, & Sun Bear paws are favored in Taiwan for soup.

The Mayayan Sun Bear, also known as the Honey Bear is the smallest bear in the world- about 4 feet tall when standing on its hind legs., it is primarily found in tropical Rainforests in SE Asia & on the islands of Sumatra & Borneo in Indonesia.

Illegal wildlife trade is estimated at USD10–20 billion annually, and is among the largest sources of illegal trade. Increased firepower & ruthless tactics on the part of the poachers jeopardize security, stability & the rule of law in countries across the globe. Beyond moral & environmental implications, large scale poaching threatens the livelihoods & economic opportunities of local communities. At the roundtable—which was organized by the US Embassy, TRAFFIC & WWF India—U.S. & Indian Gov.t officials, NGOs, wildlife lawyers & enforcement officials discussed some of their challenges & successes in combating wildlife trafficking.Jill V.: http://www.care2.com/news/member/478413351/3525277

Stop animals from being raped in brothels, as well as bestiality in general,a crime that is being committed internationally.

Many cases of bestiality are reported each year, but since it is a widely shunned practice, these instances remain part of a relatively underground world. Due to this reason, most people are unaware that bestiality goes on, and they are also unaware that it is actually still legal in a number of regions.

17) New!! Pet.: Ban the International Trade of Polar Bear Skinshttp://forcechange.com/35734/ban-the-international-trade-of-polar-bear-skins/The world’s current Polar Bear population is estimated to be around 20,000, a population which could decrease by 2/3 due to decreasing sea ice. Climate Change has caused Arctic sea ice to drop to a record low. This loss of Habitat & feeding grounds is only made worse by the recent highs in prices for polar bear skins, with recent sales in Canada bringing in twice the profit they did 5 yrs ago. The amount of bear habitat being lost means they are now rarer than ever, prompting an increase in demand, & thus, poaching. The situation is not helped by the fact that Cites certificates are becoming easily available for purchase through Russian websites, allowing poachers to claim countless legal kills.

When St. Francis preached to the birds, charmed the fish & the wolf at Gubbio, he laid a foundation of respect for animals that thrives to this day. Pope John Paul II invoked the spirit of St. Francis when he said “Creation is the marvelous work of the hand of God. His solicitous care, not only towards men, but also towards animals & nature in general, is a faithful echo of the love with which God in the beginning pronounced his ‘fiat’ which had brought them into existence. How can we not feel vibrating in the Canticle of the Creatures something of the transcendent joy of God the Creator?” St. Francis, the son of a prosperous Italian cloth merchant whose birthday on Oct.4 has given rise to “World Day for Animals” also provided documentation by historians of the intelligence of animals. Historians relate the story of the man-eating wolf of Gubbio to cite the striking rapport that can take place between humans & animals. The wolf terrorized the citizens of the Italian city of Gubbio for many years with his predatory attacks on humans & other animals. Recognizing that the wolf’s ways had sprung from hunger, St. Francis communicated to the wolf that the townspeople would provide food for him as long as he, in return, would not harm another human or animal. Historians are in agreement that the wolf bowed his head in acceptance of the saint’s offer, & for the rest of his life the wolf respected the covenant, going from house to house every day to be fed by the townspeople until he died of old age.

The illegal buying & selling of wildlife products has recently exploded on the internet. Everything from Rhinoceros horn, to Elephant ivory, to rare Reptiles can be bought & sold on the web, with many sites being in plain view of the typical web surfer. The proliferation of Wildlife Trade on the Internet is having a significant impact, & it is believed that the internet is the number one threat to some Endangered Species. It is now time to focus on shutting down the web trade. The web has been the primary resource for many illegal traders over the past decade, & the industry has seen an expansion at the expense of threatened species. TRAFFIC is a wildlife trade monitoring network that is aware of the problem & working to shut down web trafficking. Pls urge TRAFFIC to end the illegal internet trade of wildlife products.

8) New!!Stop the Hunting of Polar Bears for Profit!https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2887Despite the growing threats of Climate Change, toxic pollution & oil development that jeopardize the very existence of Polar Bears, hunters continue to kill hundreds of them every year - & are allowed to sell their body parts legally in the Int.l market. Call on President Obama to lead the way globally by proposing an urgently-needed ban on the commercial trade in Polar Bear parts at the next meeting of the Convention on Int.l Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

7) New!!Pet. Hold Man Accountable for Illegally Purchasing Baby Orangutanhttp://forcechange.com/29430/hold-man-accountable-for-illegally-purchasing-baby-orangutan/#gf_1 Anyin, a baby Orangutan from Borneo, died a year&a half after her mother was killed by poachers & someonebought her as a pet for US$140. Her owner gave her to the Nature Conserv. Ag. after she got sick. Anyin’s Species is listed on the IUCN Red List as the 25most Endangered Primates in the world. Even if it is illegal to catch, keep, or kill an Orangutan, many people are not punished. Keeping Orangutans as pets should not be excused. Keeping baby Orangutans can lead to their death as the young Orangutans do not have immune systems capable of fighting infectious diseases, easy to catch from humans(97%similar DNA). They need their mother’s milk & if deprived of it, they can suffer malnutrition & growth problems. Baby Orangutans are locked or chained in small spaces. Anyin was captured bec. of Deforestation. Poachers killed her mother&sold Anyin as a pet. She died of typhoid fever, contracted from her owner. Her owner & the poachers responsible for killing her mother should be punished for killing a fragile & highly Endangered Species.

Aug.9, 2012 - Wildlife conservationists are preparing to release another 8 Orangutans back into the wild from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Center in Central Kalimantan, which released 15 Endangered Apes earlier this year. The Orangutans, 5 male & 3 female, will be released into the Bukit Batikap today. The chairman of the BOS Foundation board of trustees, said in a statement on Wednesday that the release left him “very happy and sad at the same time”

Source: Danuta W.

This 2009 photo by the Center for Orangutan Protection (COP) shows a baby Orangutan that was rescued from locals who turned it into a pet in Kalimantan

Sugar Glidersare marsupialsindigenous toAustralia & Indonesia: they do not belong in North America, & least of all in the malls of the U.S. More & more sugar gliders are being sold as pets in the USA. CBL & Associates Properties: managing many malls including Georgia Square Mall in Athens, Georgia, allows the sale of these marsupials in their malls. Sold by Florida based company Pocket Pets in mall kiosks such as those found in Georgia Square Mall, sugar gliders are passed off as easily handled pets. This is extremely misleading to buyers who will pay as much as $600 for a sugar glider from Pocket Pets.Money: the Enemy of all Wildlife!!!(Note by Michela)

Requiring filtered water, & a balanced diet, care for sugar gliders is very intensive, they are social creatures & should not be left alone. Buyers should purchase sugar gliders in pairs because the marsupials are so instinctively communal & require affection. “When housed alone, gliders are likely to become depressed, withdrawn, defensive, may refuse to eat & could eventually die from loneliness!”Many become so depressed that they even engage in self-mutilation.Is this the price these creatures should pay for the interest of American consumers? Prohibit the sale of all exotic animals in the malls that his company manages.